1
as in curious
interested in what is not one's own business
as we moved into our new home, we could sense that there were prying eyes watching us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in busy
thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited
prying neighbors who refuse to mind their own business
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in pulling
to raise, move, or pull apart with or as if with a lever
it took some effort to pry up the trap door
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in yanking
to draw out by force or with effort
a vain attempt to pry the cork out of a wine bottle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in interfering
to interest oneself in what is not one's concern
don't go prying into other people's business
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in questioning
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prying
Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin, oregonlive, 4 Feb. 2023
But inquiring into the specifics of familial dynamics is impudent and prying — and a line of questioning that most people would be happy to avoid answering themselves.
—Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2023
The Google Nest Hub (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is a great smart display with no camera (and therefore no risk of unwanted prying eyes).
—Brenda Stolyar and Medea Giordano, WIRED, 28 Nov. 2022
To my mind, however, there’s a difference between a Google or a Facebook, which provide valuable services in return for their prying eyes, and an app that serves a single, ostensibly benign purpose — parking validation.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Nov. 2021
Carry two phones While anti-spy software may be effective in staving off the prying eyes of the Chinese government, not everyone knows how to install it.
—Jane Li, Quartz, 6 Aug. 2019
Its purpose: to train librarians to implement secure protocols on their own web services, and to teach members of the community to evade the prying eyes of governments, corporations, and criminal hackers.
—Eoin O'Carroll, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Oct. 2017
One reason Russians have loaded up on passports is that Cypriot citizenship helps them avoid the prying eyes of their government and pay lower taxes.
—Yalman Onaran, Bloomberg.com, 11 May 2017
Verb
But inquiring into the specifics of familial dynamics is impudent and prying -- and a line of questioning that most people would be happy to avoid answering themselves.
—Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin, oregonlive, 4 Feb. 2023
But inquiring into the specifics of familial dynamics is impudent and prying — and a line of questioning that most people would be happy to avoid answering themselves.
—Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2023
The Google Nest Hub (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is a great smart display with no camera (and therefore no risk of unwanted prying eyes).
—Brenda Stolyar and Medea Giordano, WIRED, 28 Nov. 2022
To my mind, however, there’s a difference between a Google or a Facebook, which provide valuable services in return for their prying eyes, and an app that serves a single, ostensibly benign purpose — parking validation.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Nov. 2021
Carry two phones While anti-spy software may be effective in staving off the prying eyes of the Chinese government, not everyone knows how to install it.
—Jane Li, Quartz, 6 Aug. 2019
Its purpose: to train librarians to implement secure protocols on their own web services, and to teach members of the community to evade the prying eyes of governments, corporations, and criminal hackers.
—Eoin O'Carroll, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Oct. 2017
One reason Russians have loaded up on passports is that Cypriot citizenship helps them avoid the prying eyes of their government and pay lower taxes.
—Yalman Onaran, Bloomberg.com, 11 May 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prying
Adjective
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This taps into the sober curious trend driving herbal tea growth at a 6% CAGR through 2029, according to Fortune Business Insights.—
Douglas Yu,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
This is followed by the full moon in Aquarius on Aug. 9, activating your curious third house of communication, thought processes and immediate surroundings — expect some revelations or important news regarding someone close.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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While Earn and Learn helps teenager find employment, the program’s participants have been on a steady decrease since 2022 Kylee Jackson, 15, has kept her mornings busy this summer.—
Maya Bell,
jsonline.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta have been busy in the transfer window, but could more incomings be on the way?—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Accuracy depends on prompt specificity, contextual clarity, iterative questioning, and critical evaluation of ChatGPT responses.—
AllBusiness,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
That phrase, repeated throughout interviews with air traffic controllers, staff, and even pilots, became a central focus of the National Transportation Safety Board’s questioning.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
31 July 2025
Adjective
-
Straightforward passages turn into figurative reflections and allusive pathways….No poet is more mercurial while frank, more understated while exacting, or more enlightened while inquisitive.—
Gabrielle Bellot,
Literary Hub,
5 Aug. 2025
-
The Assembly, in which a group of inquisitive interviewers who are autistic, neurodivergent and/or learning disabled grill celebrities, will return for a seven-episode run.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
18 July 2025
Noun
-
The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox grapples with innocence and interrogation as her life is permanently altered.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
30 July 2025
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Begun as an interrogation of evil, the bio climaxes in farce.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
29 July 2025
Adjective
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Audiences grew tired of intrusive commercials and developed subconscious ad-blocking behaviors, forcing marketers to seek alternatives.—
Tom Freiling,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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Pop-ups, ads or odd redirects: An increase in aggressive pop-ups, full-screen ads or random redirects in your browser may indicate adware or other intrusive software hiding in your system.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The department is currently gathering information, Yates said, but will not begin an official inquiry until after the teenager’s Aug. 28 juvenile court appearance.—
Caroline Neal,
The Courier-Journal,
13 Aug. 2025
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Eagle Hills Elementary did not answer the Statesman’s questions, directing inquiries to the school district.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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There’s not a better cover in the world for being aggressively nosy than walking your dog.—
Sherry Kuehl,
Kansas City Star,
6 Aug. 2025
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Effective passive mediation works by letting your mind empty of cluttering worries, like turning off a nosy kitchen fan or muting blaring music emanating from your teen’s bedroom.—
Patricia Steckler,
Baltimore Sun,
21 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prying. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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